National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Health and Social Care Committee / Y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse / Ymchwiliad i gamddefnyddio alcohol a sylweddau

Evidence from Nacro, the crime reduction charity – ASM(Q) 12 / Tystiolaeth gan Nacro, yr elusen gostwng troseddu – ASM(Q) 12

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse

Survey Consultation Response

Organisation/Respondent: Amy Gossling, NACRO

Questionnaire

01. Which client group(s) do you work with? (For example, under 18s, older persons, homeless, or female only)

Homeless

02. What are the main reasons why your clients take drugs or drink excessively?  Please tick all that apply.

If you work with more than one client group or you feel that there are other reasons as to why your clients take drugs or drink excessively, please comment in the box below.

§ Peer pressure;

§ A way to deal with stress;

§ Client(s) already substance reliant;

§ Mental Health;

§ Boost confidence;

§ Relieve social anxiety;

§ Environmental factors (for example – excessive drinking and/or drugs normalised in the home/community)

§ Relationship problems;

§ Self-medications;

§ Escapism.

03. Are there certain groups of people who are more likely to be affected by drugs and excessive drinking? If so, which groups might they be?

Those that are vulnerable, mental health.

04. Does a particular stage of your clients’ lives influence their likelihood of taking drugs or drinking excessively? If so, what stage might that be? (i.e. age, relationship breakdown, unemployment etc.)

Not really. There are far too many influences that are personal to their individual circumstances.

05. What barriers exist for your client(s) when trying to access support and services?

§ Geographical areas, bus routes are often long and infrequent;

§ Waiting lists.

06. What barriers exist for services when trying to access support for client(s)?

§ Waiting lists

07. What do you consider to be barriers for staff and frontline services in working with your client group(s), or substance misuse generally?

Trust – a number of our service users are distrustful of statutory agencies due to their own historical involvement.

08. Where do you think efforts should be targeted to address the issue of alcohol and substance misuse in Wales?

Access to treatment facilities – our service users often complain about the cost of transport to attend appointments.

Greater awareness for you people about substance use.

09. In which local authority area do you work? If you work outside of Wales, please write your local authority area below.

Flintshire

Contact Details

Amy Gossling

NACRO

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